Solihull

Solihull's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Solihull increased by 3.6%, from almost 200,000 to 207,000.

The addition of almost 7,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Solihull was home to, on average, 8.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Solihull

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Solihull increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 5,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 6,000.

About 12% of people in Solihull are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Solihull by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Solihull, but at a slower rate than in nearby Coventry.

In Solihull, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 78% in 2001 to 74% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Coventry decreased from 69% to 61%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 69% to 65%.

Private renting in Solihull increased from 4.2% to 9.9%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 16% to 15%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Solihull residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.0% to 5.2% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Solihull residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Solihull decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Solihull, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of single-person households increased here at a faster rate than across the West Midlands.

In Solihull, the proportion of single-person households increased from 26% in 2001 to 29% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 30%.

Across England, the share of single-person households increased from 30% to 30%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Solihull increased from 6.8% to 7.8%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 42% to 37%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Solihull working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 10% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Solihull decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Solihull, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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